Google My Business is an invaluable Local SEO asset for any business. Not only does it provide essential information about your services and operating hours, but it also serves as a powerful trust-building tool through ratings and reviews.
In this guide, we will delve into the art of crafting the perfect Google My Business account.
Why Google My Business Matters
Google My Business stands as one of the cornerstone elements of Local SEO. Beyond just conveying essential details like your services and operational hours, it excels as a robust trust-building mechanism via customer ratings and reviews.
In today’s business landscape, user experience is a main asset. According to various studies, 93% of customers are influenced by reviews when making purchase decisions. It’s not only the positive reviews that hold significance; tactful responses to negative feedback provide an excellent opportunity to gain valuable insights into your audience and address any concerns they might have.
In a world with thousands of businesses, many of which may be direct competitors, crafting a tailored Google My Business profile becomes a strategic necessity to outrank the competition.
Steps for Setting Up The Perfect Google My Business Profile
- Creating the account
The journey to a stellar Google My Business profile begins with Claiming your business listing: To assert your online presence, claim your business listing on Google My Business. This establishes you as the rightful owner and manager of the profile.
The next step is to verify your business. This is key to ensuring the accuracy and legitimacy of your business information. This can be done through mail, phone, email, or instantly for some businesses.
Then, you should select the appropriate category for your business. It is crucial to add the correct category so that your business is discoverable by potential customers searching for your products or services.
You will need to add all information relevant to your business, such as location, opening hours and contact information.
- Crafting and Engaging Business Description
Your business description is your digital storefront. It should be concise, informative, and enticing, providing a snapshot of what your business offers. There is a limit of 750 characters.
Remember to also add attributes that add value to your business profile. Knowing if the place is accessible or if pets are allowed, can determine the customer’s decision and mindset regarding your business. The more useful and positive information the customer gets, the better.
- Adding High-Quality Photos and Videos
A picture is worth a thousand words. High-quality images and videos of your products, services, and the interior and exterior of your establishment create a vivid and appealing portrayal of your business. These are the guidelines to follow:
- File size: Between 10 KB and 5 MB
- Profile photo: 250 x 250 px
- Cover photo: 1080 x 608 px
- Google posts: 1200 x 900 px
- Business photos: 720 x 720 px
- Format: JPG or PNG
- Ordering Buttons according to relevance
Customise the action buttons on your Google My Business profile to direct users to the most relevant pages, such as “Order Now,” “Book Appointment,” or “Visit Website.” Craft them in a way that highlights convenience.
- Include up-to-date business hours
Keeping your business hours current is essential, as it ensures that potential customers are well-informed and can plan their visits accordingly.
- Add a phone number
Make it easy for customers to reach you by providing your phone number. Make sure it is correct and aligns with the number you have listed on other platforms or your website. If your business has more than one phone number, list it as well. The more options the client has to contact you, the better.
- Website and third-party links
Add a direct link to your website for easy access. In addition, add a link to any third party that you are collaborating with, such as delivery platforms or booking services. The less clicks users have to take to complete a desired action, the more likely they are to do it.
- Implementing keywords
Strategically incorporate relevant keywords in your business description and other sections of your profile. This will enhance your visibility in search results.
Apart from the reviews, which we will dive into next, you can create an FAQ section to solve doubts and target your selected keywords.
- Answering Positive and Negative Reviews
Engage with customer reviews by responding to both positive and negative feedback. Responding to reviews can help build trust and strengthen relationships with your customers and prospects.
When asking customers for feedback, encourage them to use your targeted keywords, as their reviews can have a significant impact on your ranking.
When requesting reviews, you can formulate questions that encourage them to incorporate your chosen keywords into their responses. For instance, if your target keyword is ‘al-fresco dinner,’ you could inquire, ‘How did your al-fresco dinner go?’ or ‘Do you lean towards indoor or al-fresco dining?’ They will likely initiate the conversation by using these keywords, and their usage carries more weight in terms of search engine rankings compared to if you were to use them yourself. It is important to avoid spamming and ask specific questions.
- Monitor
Take advantage of Google My Business Insights to gain valuable data about user interactions with your profile. This information can guide your future strategies.
Analyse the insights you gather and use them to make informed decisions about your business. Make changes where necessary to improve your Google My Business profile’s effectiveness in driving customers to your establishment.
In conclusion, a well-optimised Google My Business profile is a powerful asset in the world of Local SEO. By following these ten steps, you can create a profile that not only informs potential customers but also builds trust, fosters engagement, and outranks your competitors. Remember, it’s not just about following the steps but consistently monitoring and adapting to improve your online presence over time as well as trying other strategies such as using listing managers or adjusting your website schema markup.